Abbie Hoffman (1936–1989)

This book shows a man who has matured from the views expressed in 'Steal This Book'. He hasn't radically changed his views, but this is so much more mature. This book has things to say to this generation. It is not a decrial of the drug culture, but it is a critical review and doesn't hide from the unpleasant side of the matter.

How I wish that our legislators would read, and take note, of the things included in this work. Hoffman makes the eminently rational case that a collection of middle show more aged men in suits tut-tutting will never convince the young that drug abuse is dangerous. He also scoffs at the exaggerated, scare tactics so often used. People around the drug culture are not going to believe that being in the same room as an ounce of cannabis is going to make one paranoid.

Hoffman believes that there is room for recreational drug use and, in a world that accepts cigarettes and alcohol, who can put a strong counter case.

This is a well reasoned book covering both recreational and drugs in sport and should be read by anyone with any interest in either subject. show less

This edition is a 1982 reprint of the original 1971 text, with a 1772 “copyright”. (That’s not a typo – YIPpie at work.) About all Steal this Book is good for these days is nostalgia, although Hoffman’s firebomb designs still are nice simple classics. This is where I first learned to cap a Molotov cocktail, instead of running down the street with a bottle of gasoline poorly plugged with a gas-soaked rag in one hand, and an open flame in the other. Ah, youth.
The youth of today show more won’t believe that once upon a time you could walk onto an airplane without even a boarding pass, much less a cavity search. And shoplifting didn’t involve electronic countermeasures.
I would recommend against trying most of the money-making scams listed here. Even in 1971, many were too well-known to work anymore. I know. I got busted on two occasions back in the day following Abbie’s advice. And I remember going to the little shop in Manhattan that this book said sold foreign coins to be used as slugs. I think it was a sewing notions shop. I remember the sign expressing displeasure, shall we say, with Mr. Hoffman’s misinformation. Memories! show less

Reading "Soon to be a major motion picture" with the knowledge that Hoffman committed suicide adds a sombre note to proceedings. Hoffman gives us his take on the youth protest movement of the 1960s (and his prominent role in it) and how it turned to shit in the 1970s (especially for him).

I think history is yet to fully judge Hoffman's role in 20th Century but I'm sure he will receive more than a footnote, and "Soon to be a major motion picture" is a good way to get an idea of Hoffman's work show more and his humour. It's just a shame he decided it was all too much. show less

Abbie Hoffman and “Steal this Book” was my introduction to the counter culture of the late 60s. I read this (borrowed from a library rather than stealing it) nearly 30 years after it was written (and twenty years prior to this review) and couldn’t help but feel galvanised by Hoffman (although it took me some time to find out who the author was and then how important this Hoffman chap was).

Hoffman recommends a list of sometimes ingenious ways to get stuff for free, ranging from meat show more from the meat packers area of New York (make the meat hit the ground and then they have to throw it away) to free buffalos. He also reminisces about the time he rained money down on the NY Stock Exchange and how the stick brokers went apeshit. Obviously all good fun for the people that followed Hoffman’s lead but stepping back you know that Hoffman was criticised for publicising the free stuff, leading lots of people to try the same, thus annoying the people who were doing it regularly as a way to live, and of course the poor meat packers who were swamped with idiots trying to get them to drop the meat. Still, a great time capsule of western civilisation in the late 1960s. show less